Rural Areas Asked to Pay More Under Obamacare

A New York Times county-by-county review of insurance options under the new health law found that insurance prices tend to be higher in rural areas and small towns. The law’s online exchanges, the newspaper found, provide plenty of options for people living in big metro areas.

But residents of small towns and rural areas may have only one or two insurance carriers from which to select. The lack of competition results in higher prices. The review of 2,500 counties revealed 530 where only a single insurer is participating. The newspaper only reviewed counties in the 34 states that have elected not to provide their own plans.